Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy?

Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by planetMitch in 1D MKIV, 5D mk ii, 7D, T1i

A common question – which of the new Canon hybrids is the best camera to buy? The Canon EOS 5D Mark II, the Canon EOS 7D, the Canon Rebel T1i/500D or the newly announced Canon EOS-1D MKIV? Especially with the announcement that the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is going to be getting a firmware update in 2010 to add some of the highly requested features, it becomes an even harder choice.

Wow, what a loaded question! Here are a couple of recent articles that might help you decide.

@5tu wrote this article “What should I buy?”

Philip Bloom has written this one “Now which one for video? 7D, 5DmkII, 1DmkIV?!?!”

Stephen Alvarez has his own “which camera to buy” page

So, what better way to see them to do a little side by side comparison…

CRITERIA	Canon Rebel T1i/500D	Canon EOS 7D	Canon EOS 5D Mark II	Canon EOS-1D MKIV
Price (body only US$)	$799	$1,699	$2,699	$4,999
Video (1080)	20fps	29.97, 25, 23.976 fps	30fps	29.97, 25, 23.976 fps
Video (720)	30fps	59.94, 50 fps	n/a	59.94, 50 fps
Video (640)	30fps	59.94, 50 fps	30fps	59.94, 50 fps
Video (320)	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Video autofocus	no	no	no (does have contrast based – very slow)
Max Resolution	4752 x 3168	5184 x 3456	5616 x 3744	4896 x 3264
Autofocus points		19 cross-type af points	9 point	TTL-AREA-SIR with 45-point CMOS sensor
Metering		63 Zone Full Color Metering		63 area, partial, spot (center, AF point, multi-spot), center-weighted average
Sensor size	AP-C – 15.1 mp (1.6 factor)	AP-C 18 mp (1.6 factor)	Full Frame – 21.1 mp	APS-H 16mp (1.3 factor)
Processor	Digic IV	Dual Digic IV	Digic IV	Dual DIGIC IV
Supports lenses	Canon EOS EF, EF-S mount	Canon EOS EF, EF-S mount	Canon EOS EF only	Canon EOS EF only
MicroAdjustment for lenses	n/a	Adjust all lenses by same amount (effectively body adjustment) • Adjust up to 20 lenses individually	Adjust all lenses by same amount (effectively body adjustment) • Adjust up to 20 lenses individually	Adjust all lenses by same amount (effectively body adjustment) • Adjust up to 20 lenses individually
Microphone	internal mono only	mono internal or external stereo mini plug in mic	mono internal or external stereo mini plug in mic	mono internal or external stereo mini plug in mic
ISO Range	Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (6400-12800 expandable)	Auto (100-3200), 100-6400 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments) ISO can be expanded to H: 12800	100-6400 (high ISO up to 25600) (low ISO – 50)	100 – 12800 in 1/3 or 1 stops, 50, 25600, 51200 and 102400 with boost
Weather Resistant	no	equivalent to the legendary EOS–1N	yes	Weatherproof
Memory card	SD	CF	CF	SD and CF both – can select stills go on CF and video on SD (or combination)
Battery	uses same 450D	LP-E6	LP-E6 New Smart Technology	LP-E4
Raw support	Yes	Yes – includes sRAW1 and sRAW2	Yes – includes sRAW1 and sRAW 2	Yes – includes sRAW1 and sRAW 3
Popup Flash	Yes	Yes	No	No
Maximum frames per sec	3.4	8	3.9	10
Weight (with battery)	520g (1.2lb)	860 g	810g (1.8lb)	1230 g (43.4 oz)
Custom Functions	n/a	3 sets of memorized settings	3 sets of memorized settings
AE Lock	Manual: AE lock button	• Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button	• Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button	• Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button

Twitter Comments

	kevinvanhook RT @planetMitch Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? http://blog.planet5d.com/yux #5D2 Great comparison
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	VisionWrangler RT @planetMitch: Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? http://blog.planet5d.com/yux #5D2
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	pinot Quick Guide: Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? http://blog.planet5d.com/yux (via @planetMitch)
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	planetMitch Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? http://blog.planet5d.com/yux #5D2
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5 Responses to “Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy?”

pau valiente

29. Oct, 2009

Hi! Just a small correction: The 5D mark II don’t have 720 video mode, it only records at 1920X1080 or 640X480. Bad.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos5dmkii.asp
Let’s see with the future firmware upgrade it it solves this too.

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Chris

02. Nov, 2009

One error in your article: you list the T1i as NOT being able to do 720p when infact it shoots 720p at 30fps (the most useable video mode on the camera infact)

Just pointing it out…

Reply to this comment
- planetMitch
  
  03. Nov, 2009
  
  Thanks – had a real big typo there – I fixed everything I think – thanks for letting me know!
  
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Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? | planet5D – Dedicated to …

13. Nov, 2009

[...] See the original post here: Which Canon hybrid camera should I buy? | planet5D – Dedicated to … [...]

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JCL

24. Nov, 2009

Does anyone knows if the Maximum frames per sec changes when a grip (like the Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip) is plugged-in on the different models?

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